Low bandwidth machine type communication in a long term evolution network

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method and system for enabling machine type communication in a long term evolution (LTE) network environment. In one embodiment, a Physical (PHY) layer of an LTE protocol stack maps data bits in resource elements of a logical channel to resource elements of a physical channel. The PHY layer identifies the data bits intended for legacy devices but mapped to a first set of resource elements of machine type communication (MTC) devices and the data bits intended for the MTC device but mapped to the second set of resource elements of the legacy devices. Accordingly, the PHY layer remaps the data bits intended for the legacy devices to the second set of resource elements and the data bits intended for the MTC devices to the first set of resource elements prior to transmission.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/135,674 filed on Dec. 28, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/598,190 filed on May 17, 2017, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,880,713 issued on Dec. 29, 2020, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/359,276 filed on May 19, 2014, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,686,633, issued on Jun. 20, 2017, which is a 371National Stage of International Application No. PCT/KR2012/009802 filedon Nov. 19, 2012, which claims priority to India Patent Application No.3967/CHE/2011 filed on Nov. 18, 2011, and India Patent Application No.3967/CHE/2011 filed on Nov. 19, 2012, the disclosures of which areherein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present invention generally relates to the field of long termevolution network, and more particularly relates to machine typecommunication in a long term evolution network.

2. Description of Related Art

Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a technology that is being standardized byThird Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) forum as part of the 4thGeneration wireless network evolution. LTE is flexible on spectrumrequirement point and can operate in different frequency bands. The listof flexibility requirement LTE spectrum allocations (1.25, 1.6, 2.5, 5,10, 15 and 20 MHz) and furthermore, LTE can also operate in unpaired aswell as paired spectrum. From a user equipment perspective, it ismandatory in LTE for user equipments to support 20 MHz frequency band.

As more and more MTC devices are deployed in this field, this naturallyincreases the reliance on Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM)/General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) networks. This reliance willcost operators not only in terms of maintaining multiple Radio AccessTechnology (RATs), and also prevents operators from reaping the maximumbenefit out of their spectrum (given the non-optimal spectrum efficiencyof GSM/GPRS). Because usage of high number of MTC devices, the overallresource they need for service provision may be correspondinglysignificant and inefficiently assigned.

Low cost LTE modems are critical for supporting and migrating M2Mapplications to LTE networks. The LTE baseband processing circuits andRadio Frequency (RF) components are critical components in the overallcost. RF Bill Of Material (BOM) recurring costs is not insignificant atall: the cost is about 4 dollars for a dual band GSM phone, 5 dollarsfor a tri band phone, and 6 dollars for a quad band phone. As a resultBOM for RF components for LTE will be much higher.

Currently approaches for achieving low cost MTC devices in LTE networksare as follows:

1) Dedicated MTC LTE carrier: A dedicated narrowband carrier could beused for MTC devices. The advantage of this approach is that there areno specifications impacts in this approach. The Disadvantages are thatthere may not be available spectrum to deploy a dedicated MTC carrier.Some eNodeBs might not have the ability to support a narrowband carrier(e.g., as may be the case if it is necessary to split an existingcarrier). This also goes against a key requirement of “Target operationof low-cost MTC devices and legacy devices on the same carrier” and useof a separate carrier for the support of low bandwidth MTC devices wouldbe directly contradictory to this requirement.

2) Relay Node: The possibility of using a relay node where the Unbandwidth is (evidently) the same as that of the legacy carrier, but theUu bandwidth is a low bandwidth that is compatible with MTC devices.Although the use of relays was originally proposed from the perspectiveof bandwidth reduction, they might also be useful from the perspectiveof improving coverage for any MTC devices that have a lower transmitpower capability or for single receive antenna devices. Advantages arethat there are no impacts on the legacy eNode B and the potential toimprove uplink and downlink coverage for cost reduced devices that haveeither a single receive chain or low transmit power. The disadvantagesare that the deployment of extra hardware is required. Existing relaynodes would not necessarily support this functionality and may need tobe upgraded or replaced. The complexity of existing relay nodes would beincreased. MTC devices in the coverage area of the donor eNode-B (asopposed to a relay node) would not be supported by the low bandwidth Uulink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary long term evolution(LTE) network system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a general overview of the LTE protocol stack forcommunications between a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminalin LTE systems.

FIG. 3A is a schematic representation illustrating co-existence of 1.25MHz frequency region within 20 MHz frequency band, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 3B is a schematic representation illustrating scheduling of databits over a 1.25 MHz frequency region in a radio frame, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method ofestablishing a radio resource connection with a low bandwidth MTC deviceover a dedicated frequency region, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a process flowchart illustrating an exemplary method ofcommunicating data bits over a 1.25 MHz frequency region dedicated forlow bandwidth MTC devices in a LTE network, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation illustrating a process of mappingdata bits to appropriate resource elements of a physical channel,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a process flow chart illustrating an exemplary method ofcommunicating data bits over a 1.25 MHz frequency region dedicated forlow bandwidth MTC devices in the LTE network, according to anotherembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation illustrating of an exemplary radioframe containing a MBSFN subframe with a MTC scheduling region,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a process flow chart illustrating an exemplary method ofprocessing the received data bits by a low bandwidth MTC device,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation illustrating the network entityconfigures a dedicated search space for the MTC device upon successfulestablishment of the radio resource connection.

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a method and system for enabling machinetype communication over a narrow frequency region within a largerbandwidth cell. In the following detailed description of the embodimentsof the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings thatform a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustrationspecific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. Theseembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood thatother embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. The followingdetailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense,and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appendedclaims.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary long term evolution(LTE) network system 100, according to one embodiment. The LTE networksystem 100 includes a network entity 102, low bandwidth MTC devices104A-N, and legacy devices 106A-N. The network entity 102 is wirelesslyconnected to the low bandwidth MTC devices 104A-N and the legacy devices106A-N via the communication network 110.

Each of the MTC devices 104A-N includes a low cost LTE modem 112configured for operating in narrow bandwidth of 1.25 mega-Hertz (MHz).The network entity 102 may comprise a base station in an LTE network,sometimes referred to as an Evolved Node B (eNodeB). The network entity102 includes an LTE protocol stack 108. The LTE protocol stack 108 is alayered protocol stack. Each layer of the protocol stack 108 representsa set of protocols or functions needed to communicate over the network110.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the LTE protocol stack 108 includes a packet dataconvergence protocol (PDCP) layer 202, a radio link control (RLC) layer204, a medium access control (MAC) layer 206, and the physical (PHY)layer 208. The LTE protocol stack 108 is typically implemented by aspecially programmed processor.

User plane data in the form of IP packets to be transmitted enters thePDCP layer 202 where the IP headers may be compressed to reduce thenumber of bits transmitted over the air interface. The PDCP layer 202also performs ciphering and deciphering of the IP packets for security.The RLC layer 204 ensures almost error free, in-sequence delivery ofcompressed IP packets to a PDCP layer at the receiving terminal, whichis needed for certain types of communication. At the transmittingterminal, the RLC layer 204 segments and/or concatenates compressed IPpackets received over radio bearers from the PDCP layer 202 to createRLC protocol data units (PDUs).

The MAC layer 206 maps RLC PDUs received from the RLC layer 204 onvarious logical channels to corresponding transport channels (alsoreferred to as physical channels). The MAC layer 206 is also responsiblefor uplink and downlink scheduling. The MAC PDUs are fed by the MAClayer 206 to the PHY layer 208. The PHY layer 208 handlescoding/decoding, modulation/demodulation, interleaving, and mapping ofdata bits prior to transmission of one or more PHY layer PDUs.

According to one embodiment, the network entity 102 allocates a radioaccess channel (RACH) region in a frequency region dedicated for lowbandwidth MTC devices (herein after referred to as ‘1.25 MHz frequencyregion’) to the MTC devices 104A-N. Then, the network entity 102transmits a MTC specific information message indicating the allocatedRACH region and a common search space to the MTC devices 104A-N. Inresponse, the MTC devices 104A-N send a RACH message on the RACH regionin the 1.25 MHz frequency region. As a consequence, the network entity102 establishes a Radio Resource Connection with the MTC device 104A andconfigures a dedicated search space for the MTC devices 104A-N uponsuccessful establishment of the radio resource connection. Furthermore,the network entity 102 allocates resources for the MTC devices 104A-Nwithin the 1.25 MHz frequency region and indicates the resourcesallocated within the 1.25 MHz frequency region to the MTC devices104A-N.

Prior to transmission of data, the PHY layer 208 maps the interleaveddata bits intended for the MTC devices 104A-N to respective resourceelements of a physical channel(s) belonging to 1.25 MHz frequency regionin a 20 MHz frequency band. The PHY layer 208 also maps the interleaveddata bits intended for the legacy devices 106A-N to respective resourceelements of the physical channel belonging to a frequency region outsidethe 1.25 MHz frequency region and within the 20 MHz frequency band.Accordingly, the eNodeB 102 transmits the data bits mapped to therespective resource elements over a radio frequency corresponding to the1.25 MHz frequency region and the region outside the 1.25 MHz frequencyregion to the MTC devices 104A-N and the legacy devices 106A-Nrespectively.

FIG. 3A is a schematic representation 300 illustrating co-existence of1.25 MHz frequency region within 20 MHz frequency band, according to oneembodiment. According to the present invention, the eNodeB 102 schedulesdata for the MTC devices 104A-N on narrow bandwidth of 1.25 MHz and thelegacy devices 106A-N are scheduled on a region outside the 1.25 MHzfrequency region and within 20 MHz.

FIG. 3B is a schematic representation 350 illustrating scheduling ofdata bits (e.g., MTC data) over a 1.25 MHz frequency region in a radioframe, according to one embodiment. As depicted, the eNodeB 102schedules control channels (e.g., PDCCH) in resource elements belongingto 1.25 MHz frequency region of a first three OFDM symbols of asubframe. Also, the eNodeB 102 schedules resource channels (e.g., PacketData Control Channel (PDCCH)) in resource elements of 1.25 MHz frequencyregion starting from the fourth OFDM symbol of the subframe. PDCCHscheduling could be based on Downlink Control Information (DCI) formatsor on blind decoding. If the PDCCH scheduling is based on blinddecoding, new control channel elements (CCEs) are defined to reducedecoding combinations (i.e., 1, 2, 4, 8 CCE aggregation in LTE, eachstarting on mod N boundary where N=1, 2, 4, 8). Also, differentdedicated search spaces are defined to reduce the decoding combinationsfor the blind decoding case as illustrated in FIG. 10 . Also, in thepresent invention, PCFICH and PHICH are scheduled in the 1.25 MHzfrequency region. The advantage of this approach is that one set issufficient for both MTC devices and legacy devices and also frequencydiversity is reduced. In another embodiment, a second set of PCFICH andPHICH are defined only for the low bandwidth MTC devices 104A-N. In yetanother embodiment, PHICH is defined for the low bandwidth MTC devices104A-N and no PCFICH is used.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram 400 illustrating an exemplary method ofestablishing a radio resource connection with a low bandwidth MTC device104A over a dedicated frequency region, according to one embodiment. Atstep 402, the network entity 102 allocates a radio access channel (RACH)region in a frequency region dedicated for low bandwidth MTC devices(herein after referred to as ‘1.25 MHz frequency region’) to the MTCdevice 104A. At step 404, the network entity 102 transmits a MTCspecific information message indicating the allocated RACH region and acommon search space to the MTC device 104A.

At step 406, the MTC device 104A sends a RACH message on the RACH regionin the 1.25 MHz frequency region. At step 408, the network entity 104Aestablishes a Radio Resource Connection with the MTC device 104A. Atstep 410, the network entity 102 configures a dedicated search space forthe MTC device 104A upon successful establishment of the radio resourceconnection as shown in FIG. 10 .

At step 412, the network entity 102 allocates resources for the MTCdevice 104A within the 1.25 MHz frequency region. For example, theresources may include resource elements in the physical channel fallingwithin the 1.25 MHz frequency region. In one embodiment, resourceelements in an entire radio frame falling within the 1.25 MHz frequencyregion are allocated to the MTC device 104A and resource elementsfalling outside the 1.25 MHz frequency region but falling within 20 MHzfrequency band are allocated to legacy devices 106A-N as shown in FIG. 6.

In another embodiment, resource elements in one of subframes of a radioframe are allocated exclusively for low bandwidth MTC devices 104A-Nwhile the resource elements in remaining subframes of the radio frameare allocated to the legacy devices 106A-N as illustrated in FIG. 8 . Inthis embodiment, a MTC scheduling region(s) is defined in the subframeand resource elements falling within the MTC scheduling region areallocated to the MTC devices 104A-N. For example, when an evolved Node B102 supports multi-media broadcast multicast over single frequencynetwork (MBSFN) service, the eNodeB 102 allocates a MTC schedulingregion in a subframe of a radio frame exclusively for the low bandwidthMTC devices 104A-N, where the radio frame is of 20 MHz bandwidth and theMTC scheduling region in the allocated subframe is having a bandwidth of1.25 MHz within 20 MHz. In one exemplary implementation, a MBSFNsubframe in a radio frame is allocated to the MTC devices 104A-N. Inanother exemplary implementation, a blank subframe in the radio frame isallocated to the MTC devices 104A-N. The eNodeB 102 indicates allocationof MTC scheduling region in the MBSFN/blank subframe through a masterinformation block (MIB) message and indicates remaining informationthrough a newly defined system information message. Also, the eNodeB 102also notifies specific scheduling of the newly defined systeminformation message in the MIB message when such scheduling is not knownto the MTC devices 104A-N. Additionally, the eNodeB 102 indicateswhether the eNodeB 102 supports multiple bandwidths to the MTC devices104A-N using a bit indicator in the MIB message or the systeminformation block message. Further, the eNodeB 102 indicates bandwidthssupported for the low cost MTC devices 104A-N via a dl_MTC-bandwidthenumerated string as shown in Appendix ‘A’ and Appendix ‘B’.

At step 414, the network entity 102 sends resources allocated within the1.25 MHz frequency region to the MTC device 104A. For example, theallocation of the MTC scheduling region is indicated to the MTC devices104A-N in a master information block message or a system informationblock message.

FIG. 5 is a process flowchart 500 illustrating an exemplary method ofcommunicating data bits over a 1.25 MHz frequency region dedicated forlow bandwidth MTC devices 104A-N in an LTE network, according to oneembodiment. Particularly, FIG. 5 illustrates a process steps performedat the PHY layer 208. At step 502, data bits received from the MAC layer206 are encoded using an appropriate encoding technique. At step 504,the encoded data bits are interleaved and modulated using a configuredmodulation scheme (e.g., QPSK modulation scheme).

At step 506, the data bits in resource elements of a logical channel aremapped to resource elements of a physical channel. It can be noted that,the physical channel contains a first set resource elements which belongto 1.25 MHz frequency region and a second set of resource elements whichbelong to a region outside 1.25 MHz within a 20 MHz frequency band. Forexample, the data bits in the resource elements of the physical channel:

${{\overset{\sim}{n}}_{PRB}( n_{s} )} = {( {{{\overset{\sim}{n}}_{VRB} + {{f_{hop}(i)} \cdot N_{RB}^{sb}} + ( {( {N_{RB}^{sb} - 1} ) - {2( {{\overset{\sim}{n}}_{VRB}{mod}N_{RB}^{sb}} )}} )}{\cdot {f_{m}(i)}}} ){{mod}( {N_{RB}^{sb} \cdot N_{sb}} )}}$$i = \{ \begin{matrix}\lfloor {n_{s}/2} \rfloor & {{inter} - {subframe}{hopping}} \\n_{s} & {{intra}{and}{inter} - {subframe}{hopping}}\end{matrix} $${n_{PRB}( n_{s} )} = \{ \begin{matrix}{{\overset{\sim}{n}}_{PRB}( n_{s} )} & {N_{sb} = 1} \\{{{\overset{\sim}{n}}_{PRB}( n_{s} )} + \lceil {N_{RB}^{HO}/2} \rceil} & {N_{sb} > 1}\end{matrix} $${\overset{\sim}{n}}_{VRB} = \{ \begin{matrix}n_{VRB} & {N_{sb} = 1} \\{n_{VRB} - \lceil {N_{RB}^{HO}/2} \rceil} & {N_{sb} > 1}\end{matrix} $

where n_(VRB) is obtained from scheduling grant. The parameterpusch-Hopping Offset (N_(RB) ^(HO)) is provided by the MAC layer 206.The size N_(RB) ^(sb) of each sub-band is given by:

$N_{RB}^{sb} = \{ \begin{matrix}N_{RB}^{UL} & {N_{sb} = 1} \\\lfloor {( {N_{RB}^{UL} - N_{RB}^{HO} - {N_{RB}^{HO}{mod}\ 2}} )/N_{sb}} \rfloor & {N_{sb} > 1}\end{matrix} $

where, the number of sub-bands N_(sb) is given by the MAC layer 206. Thefunction ƒ_(m)(i)∈{0,1} determines whether mirroring is used or not. Theparameter Hopping-mode determines if hopping is “inter-subframe” or“intra and inter-subframe”.The hopping function ƒ_(hop)(i) and the function ƒ_(m) (i) are given by:

${f_{hop}(i)} = \{ \begin{matrix}0 & {N_{sb} = 1} \\{( {{f_{hop}( {i - 1} )} + {\overset{{1 \cdot 10} + 9}{\sum\limits_{k = {{i \cdot 10} + 1}}}{{c(k)} \times 2^{k - {({{i \cdot 10} + 1})}}}}} ){mod}N_{sb}} & {N_{sb} = 2} \\( {{f_{hop}( {i - 1} )} + {( {\overset{{1 \cdot 10} + 9}{\sum\limits_{k = {{i \cdot 10} + 1}}}{{c(k)} \times 2^{k - {({{i \cdot 10} + 1})}}}} ){mod}( {N_{sb} - 1} )} + 1} ) & {N_{sb} > 2}\end{matrix} $ ${f_{m}(i)} = \{ \text{⁠}\begin{matrix}{i{mod}2} & \begin{matrix}{N_{sb} = {1{and}{intra}{and}{inter} - {subframe}}} \\{hopping}\end{matrix} \\{{CURRENT\_ TX}{\_ NB}{mod}2} & {N_{sb} = {1{and}{inter} - {subframe}{hopping}}} \\{c( {i \cdot 10} )} & {N_{sb} > 1}\end{matrix} $

where ƒ_(hop) (−1)=0 and the pseudo-random sequence c(i) is given bysection 7.2 and CURRENT_TX_NB indicates the transmission number for thetransport block transmitted in slot n_(s). The pseudo-random sequencegenerator shall be initialised with c_(init)=N_(ID) ^(cell) for framestructure type 1 and c_(init)=2⁹·(n_(f) mod 4)+N_(ID) ^(cell) for framestructure type 2 at the start of each frame.

At step 508, the data bits intended for the legacy devices 106A-N butmapped to the first set of resource elements of the MTC devices 104A-Nare identified. Similarly, at step 508, the data bits intended for theMTC device 104A-N but mapped to the second set of resource elements ofthe legacy devices 106A-N are identified. At step 510, the data bitsintended for the legacy devices 106A-N are remapped to the secondresource elements and the data bits intended for the MTC devices 104A-Nare remapped to the first set of resource elements. In one embodiment,the eNodeB 102 remaps data bits intended for the legacy devices 106A-Nto the resource elements outside the 1.25 MHz frequency region asfollows:

If n_(prb1.25)==n_(prb20),

n _(prb20) =fn ₂₀(fn ⁻¹ _(1.25)(n _(prb1.25)))

where, n_(prb1.25) is Physical Resource Block (PRB) for 1.25 MHzfrequency region calculated using the conventional formula, fn₂₀ is theconventional formula for 20 MHz frequency band, and fn⁻¹ _(1.25) is thereverse conventional formula (i.e., the reverse mapping from thephysical channel to logical channels).

At step 512, the data bits mapped to the respective resource elementsare transmitted over a radio frequency corresponding to the 1.25 MHzfrequency region and the region outside the 1.25 MHz frequency region tothe MTC devices 104A-N and the legacy devices 106A-N respectively.

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation 600 illustrating a process ofmapping data bits to appropriate resource elements of a physicalchannel, according to one embodiment. As depicted, a logical channel 602contains data bits 604A-J in resource elements 606A-J. The data bits604A-J are intended for the MTC devices 104A-N and the logical devices106A-N. A physical channel 606 contains a first set of resource elements608A-D which corresponds to the 1.25 MHz frequency region and a secondset of resource elements 610A-F which corresponds to region outside the1.25 MHz frequency region in the 20 MHz frequency band.

Prior to transmitting the data bits 604A-J, the eNodeB 102 maps themodulated data bits 604A-J to the resource elements 608A-D, 610A-F ofthe physical channel 606. It can be seen that the data bits 604B and604I are mapped to the resource elements 608A and 608C while the databits 604D and 604F are mapped to the resource elements 610B and 610F.However, the data bits 604B and 604I should have been mapped to theresource elements 610B and 610F while the data bits 604D and 604F shouldhave been mapped to the resource elements 608A and 608C. This isbecause, the data bits 604D and 604F are intended for the MTC devices104A-N and should be transmitted over 1.25 MHz frequency region.Similarly, the data bits 604B and 604I are intended for the legacydevices 104A-N and should be transmitted over frequencies fallingoutside the 1.25 MHz frequency region.

In this scenario, the eNodeB 102 identifies wrongly mapped data bits(i.e., data bits 604B, 604D, 604F, and 604I) and remaps the data bits604D and 604F to the resource elements 608A and 608C, and the data bits604B and 604I to the resource elements 610B and 610F. Thus, the databits 604D-G are correctly mapped to resource elements 608A-D belongingto the 1.25 MHz frequency region reserved for the MTC devices 104A-N.

FIG. 7 is a process flow chart 700 illustrating an exemplary method ofcommunicating data bits over a 1.25 MHz frequency region dedicated forlow bandwidth MTC devices 104A-N in the LTE network, according toanother embodiment. At step 702, data bits received from the MAC layer206 are encoded using an appropriate encoding technique. At step 704,the encoded data bits are interleaved and modulated using a configuredmodulation scheme (e.g., QPSK modulation scheme).

At step 706, data bits intended for the MTC devices 104A-N are mapped toresource elements in the MTC scheduling region of the subframe. At step708, the data bits mapped to the resource elements are transmitted tothe MTC devices 104A-N over a radio frequency corresponding to the MTCscheduling region.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation illustrating of an exemplary radioframe 800 containing a MBSFN subframe 802 with a MTC scheduling region804, according to one embodiment. The radio frame of 20 MHz contains aplurality of subframes with a MBSFN subframe 802. The MBSFN subframe 802includes a MTC scheduling region 804 of 1.25 MHz. When MBSFN data isbeing transmitted on a time slot, the eNodeB 102 maps data bits toresource elements of the MBSFN subframe 802 on the entire 20 MHzbandwidth. When MTC data is being transmitted or received on a timeslot, in one embodiment, the eNode B 102 maps data bits intended for MTCdevices 104A-N to resource elements belonging 1.25 MHz frequency regionin the MBSFN subframe 802.

FIG. 9 is a process flow chart 900 illustrating an exemplary method ofprocessing the received data bits by the low bandwidth MTC device 104A,according to one embodiment. At step 902, data bits transmitted over theradio frequency corresponding to the 1.25 MHz frequency region isreceived by the MTC device 104A. At step 904, the received data bitsthat are mapped to the resource elements in the 1.25 MHz frequencyregion of the physical channel are re-mapped to the respective resourceelements of the logical channel.

At step 906, the data bits mapped to the respective resource elements ofthe logical channel are demodulated using an appropriate demodulationscheme. At step 908, the demodulated data bits mapped to the respectiveresource elements of the logical channel are decoded using anappropriate decoding technique and sent to the MAC layer 206 for furtherprocessing.

Apart from the embodiments described in FIGS. 1 to 9 , the eNodeB 102can transmit data to the MTC devices 104A-N by bundling the MTC devices104A-N into a paging cycle. If the MTC devices 104A-N are bundled into apaging cycle, the eNodeB 102 indicates to the MTC devices 104A-N indedicated signalling mechanism (e.g., dedicated non-access stratum (NAS)message).

The present embodiments have been described with reference to specificexample embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications andchanges may be made to these embodiments without departing from thebroader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. Furthermore, thevarious devices, modules, and the like described herein may be enabledand operated using hardware circuitry, for example, complementary metaloxide semiconductor based logic circuitry, firmware, software and/or anycombination of hardware, firmware, and/or software embodied in a machinereadable medium. For example, the various electrical structure andmethods may be embodied using transistors, logic gates, and electricalcircuits, such as application specific integrated circuit.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method performed by a terminal in a wirelesscommunication system, the method comprising: receiving, from a basestation, a master information block (MIB) including first informationfor identifying a common control region in which a physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH) is to be received; and receiving, from the basestation, a system information message including second information foridentifying a common search space, wherein a frequency region of thecommon control region is within a bandwidth of a cell and includesconsecutive physical resource blocks (PRBs), and wherein a time regionof the common control region is within three orthogonal frequencydivision multiplexing (OFDM) symbols.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereina quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation scheme is applied forthe common control region.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the PDCCHis for scheduling the system information message.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the system information message further includes thirdinformation for identifying a random access channel (RACH) region. 5.The method of claim 4, further comprising: transmitting, to the basestation, a signal on the RACH region; and receiving, from the basestation, a message for configuring one or more bandwidths in thebandwidth of the cell.
 6. A method performed by a base station in awireless communication system, the method comprising: transmitting, to aterminal, a master information block (MIB) including first informationfor identifying a common control region in which a physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH) is to be transmitted; and transmitting, to theterminal, a system information message including second information foridentifying a common search space, wherein a frequency region of thecommon control region is within a bandwidth of a cell and includesconsecutive physical resource blocks (PRBs), and wherein a time regionof the common control region is within three orthogonal frequencydivision multiplexing (OFDM) symbols.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereina quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation scheme is applied forthe common control region.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the PDCCHis for scheduling the system information message.
 9. The method of claim6, wherein the system information message further includes thirdinformation for identifying a random access channel (RACH) region. 10.The method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving, from the terminal,a signal on the RACH region; and transmitting, to the terminal, amessage for configuring one or more bandwidths in the bandwidth of thecell.
 11. A terminal in a wireless communication system, the terminalcomprising: a transceiver; and a controller coupled with the transceiverand configured to: receive, from a base station, a master informationblock (MIB) including first information for identifying a common controlregion in which a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) is to bereceived, and receive, from the base station, a system informationmessage including second information for identifying a common searchspace, wherein a frequency region of the common control region is withina bandwidth of a cell and includes consecutive physical resource blocks(PRBs), and wherein a time region of the common control region is withinthree orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols.
 12. Theterminal of claim 11, wherein a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK)modulation scheme is applied for the common control region.
 13. Theterminal of claim 11, wherein the PDCCH is for scheduling the systeminformation message.
 14. The terminal of claim 11, wherein the systeminformation message further includes third information for identifying arandom access channel (RACH) region.
 15. The terminal of claim 14,wherein the controller is further configured to: transmit, to the basestation, a signal on the RACH region, and receive, from the basestation, a message for configuring one or more bandwidths in thebandwidth of the cell.
 16. A base station in a wireless communicationsystem, the base station comprising: a transceiver; and a controllercoupled with the transceiver and configured to: transmit, to a terminal,a master information block (MIB) including first information foridentifying a common control region in which a physical downlink controlchannel (PDCCH) is to be transmitted, and transmit, to the terminal, asystem information message including second information for identifyinga common search space, wherein a frequency region of the common controlregion is within a bandwidth of a cell and includes consecutive physicalresource blocks (PRBs), and wherein a time region of the common controlregion is within three orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)symbols.
 17. The base station of claim 16, wherein a quadrature phaseshift keying (QPSK) modulation scheme is applied for the common controlregion.
 18. The base station of claim 16, wherein the PDCCH is forscheduling the system information message.
 19. The base station of claim16, wherein the system information message further includes thirdinformation for identifying a random access channel (RACH) region. 20.The base station of claim 19, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to: receive, from the terminal, a signal on the RACH region,and transmit, to the terminal, a message for configuring one or morebandwidths in the bandwidth of the cell.